Peg planes and trench talk

May half term is almost upon us and during this school break the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has planned a week of wartime nostalgia to keep the younger members of the family entertained. Taking place from Saturday 27 May to Sunday 4 June, visitors are invited to join in a fun flying themed craft activity and wartime trail, suitable for children of all ages.

Taking inspiration from the Museum’s three iconic First World War aircraft; the Sopwith Pup, Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter and the Bristol M.1c, children will be transforming wooden pegs and lollypop sticks into biplane fridge magnets. This hands-on activity will take place nestled amongst the aircraft in the War in the Air hangar and will get families working together and having fun as they create their personalised plane. Participants will then take their creation home and stick on their fridge as a fitting memento of their visit to the Museum. Participation in this activity costs just £2.00 per person and tickets can be purchased from the Visitor Centre on arrival.

Sticking with the First World War theme, children will be challenged to find all of the hidden wartime slang words, concealed in and around the Museum’s First World War in the Air exhibition. The First World War brought together service personnel from different countries and backgrounds and slang words were often used to help people describe their experiences. By following the ‘Spot the Slang’ trail, youngsters will discover the meanings behind a selection of First World War slang terms including ‘Ace’, ‘Basket Case’ and ‘Whizzbang’, some of which are still used today.

Children taking part in the trail can also enter into a competition to WIN a prize bundle from the RAF Museum shop worth over £50! To enter the competition all you need to do is hit ‘Like’ on the RAF Museum Cosford Facebook page and follow the instructions on the back page of your trail sheet. So, if you have any eagle-eyed children in your family and are up for the challenge, pick up your trail from the Visitor Centre on arrival at the Museum. Participation is just £1.00 per person and entry into the competition is free. The winner will be announced on Facebook in June.

Plus, there’s plenty more to the keep families entertained during the half term week - learn if you have what it takes to be a pilot in Fun ‘n’ Flight which is packed with hands on excitement. Whether you’re learning how to fly a Spitfire, investigating air flow with ‘The Blower’ or guiding a Hercules to a drop zone you will be learning and having fun. Or, why not let your imagination take flight on board the Museum’s 4D Experience which combines cutting-edge 3D computer animation with the added fourth dimension of special environmental effects. Experience the thrill of flying in formation with the world famous aerobatic display team the Red Arrows in the new 4D ride.